Notts Forest 1 Sheff W 0: No team is better than us, says Owls manager

Miguel Llera’s 75th-minute own goal condemned the Owls to a 10th defeat of the season as both sides spurned various golden opportunities.

The hosts dominated possession for long periods, but the visitors looked lively on the break and the 4,400 away fans that made the journey down the M1 had every right to feel aggrieved not to see their side collect at least a point for their endeavours – Llera inexplicably nodding Chris Cohen’s cross from the right past Chris Kirkland, after Billy Sharp had failed to make contact.

“I’m saying the same thing every week,” said Jones after a display that leaves his side 21st in the table and just two points above the relegation zone. “There’s no team in this division better than us. They might have a bit more composure in front of goal but that’s it.

“I’m an honest man and if we were getting hammered every week I would be the first to hold my hands up.

“I keep checking under my car in the mornings to check I haven’t run over a nun or a black cat,” added Jones, who, having failed to land Sunderland striker Connor Wickham on loan during the week, made just the one change to the side that lost to Middlesbrough, Nejc Pecnik preferred to Paul Corry.

Former England cap Jay Bothroyd was the main culprit for the visitors, seeing his effort from eight yards headed off the line by Danny Collins with goalkeeper Lee Camp stranded midway through the second half.

“I almost wish Jay hadn’t hit it cleanly,” added Jones. “If he mishits it anywhere else it goes in. We should have put them to the sword long before they got the goal.

“If you don’t take your chances away from home you get punished.”

Nottingham Forest: Camp, Halford, Collins, Ward, Gillett, Moloney, Jenas (Guedioura 55), Reid (Lansbury 50), Cohen, Blackstock, Sharp. Unused substitutes: Darlow, McGugan, Cox, Coppinger, Ayala.

Sheffield Wednesday: Kirkland, Buxton, Jones (Mayor 82), Llera, Gardner, Barkley, Semedo, Pecnik (Jermaine Johnson 52), Antonio, Madine, Bothroyd. Unused substitutes: Bywater, Taylor, Mattock, McCabe, Rodri.

Referee: A Woolmer (Northamptonshire).

Man of the match: Chris Cohen.